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Morning Session

The Schedule

Track and field is a sort of a three-ring circus, with many things happening at once, so a schedule is best understood in a visual medium. Competition will begin at 8:3am (Eastern time) and go until about noon.

8:30am: Decathlon 100 meters

The thing about the decathlon is that everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses. Each event must be considered relative to their capabilities. For example, Canada’s Damian Warner is capable of beating the USA’s Ashton Eaton in this opening 100 meters, but a big PR by a relatively slow decathlete like Germany’s Arthur Abele could put him in an advantageous position over Warner when the remaining nine events are taken into consideration.

What we do is we forecast each event for the top contenders and update after each event. We used to do it with paper and pencil, but the internet now does it automatically. That’s a valuable link so bookmark it if you’re going to follow the decathlon.

8:40am: Men’s hammer throw qualifying

Qualifying format: Two groups will throw, one at 8:40am and the other at 10:05am. The top twelve overall will go to the final, and anyone over 76.50 meters (251’ 0”) will get there automatically.Favorites: Pawel Fajdek (Poland), Krisztián Pars (Hungary), Dilshod Nazarov (Tajikistan), Ivan Tikhon (Belarus), Wojciech Nowicki (Poland), Marcel Lomnicky (Slovakia)Americans: Kibwe Johnson, Conor McCullough, Rudy WinklerCanadians: none

10:55am: Men’s steeplechase final

Favorites: Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya), Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya), Evan Jager (USA), Brimin Kipruto (Kenya), Mahiedine Mekhissi (France), John Koech (Bahrain)Americans: Jager, Donn Cabral, Hillary BorCanadians: Matt HughesBet worth taking: PaddyPower is offering 2:1 odds on Kemboi. Like taking candy from a baby…
Kevin Sully previewed this for us. Kemboi’s specialties are winning championship meets and awesome celebration. Jager is good enough to get on the medal stand, which would be a first in this event for the USA since 1984, but the competition is tough.

7:45pm: Women’s 100 meter hurdles semifinals

Qualifying format: The top two in each heat plus the next two fastest qualify to the final, held later tonight.Favorites: Brianna Rollins (USA), Kristi Castlin (USA), Nia Ali (USA), Cindy Roleder (Germany), Alina Talay (Belarus), Tiffany Porter (Great Britain), Cindy Ofili (Great Britain)Americans: Rollins, Ali, CastlinCanadians: Phylicia George, Nikkita Holder
This is another two-for-one semi-then-final event, and Kevin Sully previewed it for us. The USA is favored to sweep the medals, but those ten obstacles tend to upset the apple cart.

8:15pm: Women’s long jump final

Favorites: Brittney Reese (USA), Ivana Spanovic (Serbia), Tianna Bartoletta (USA), Sosthene Taroum Moguenara (Germany)Americans: Reese, BartolettaCanadians: noneBet worth taking: Reese is even money to win. She’s not going to lose.
Reese, aka “The Beast”, is nearly unbeatable when healthy. She wasn’t healthy in 2014 or ’15 but is now. One or two jumps will be huge and put away the gold. The real battle is for silver.

8:20pm: Decathlon 400 meters

Eaton is good enough here to be an Olympic finalist in the individual 400. As always, check the forecasting service to see how things stack up.

9:30pm: Women’s 200 meters final

Favorites: Dafne Schippers (Holland), Elaine Thompson (Jamaica), Tori Bowie (USA)Americans: Bowie, Deajah StevensCanadians: none
This is a reprise of the 100, where Thompson ruled and Bowie won silver. Schippers was a well-beaten fifth in that race, but she’s much better at this longer distance.

9:55pm: Women’s 100 meter hurdles final

The finalists will not be known until the semis earlier in the evening.